Abby's Cochlear Implants

My name is Jamie and I am Abby's mother.  Abby is 5 1/2 years old and the most caring little girl ever and has always been very healthy.  January 5, 2015 my husband and I woke up hearing our little girl saying her head felt funny and she couldn’t hear.  We instantly jumped up and rushed her to a pediatric ER.  The ER doctor told us her ears were draining and sent us on our way.  The next day we had a follow-up appointment with her primary doctor who instantly admitted us to Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital downtown Cleveland,  OH. It turns out just overnight  she lost 100% of her hearing and gained a left side facial palsy along with unsteady gait (dizziness). Our first few nights there were the worst experience I've ever had to go through.  At 8 months pregnant with her baby sister I was trying my best to keep calm.  After seeing just about every type of specialist within the next months- Neurologists, neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, oncologists, infectious disease, ENT, ophthalmologists, having multiple MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, spinal taps, steroids injected into her ear drums, and 3 biopsies the doctors are still  not able to give us a diagnosis.  All they can see is "scarring" to the bones in her skull and inflammation; however, all the tests and labs keep coming back inconclusive or negative on everything they test for.  Now, in July the doctors are telling us that Abby will need to have cochlear implants due to the length of time that she has gone without hearing, they feel that the damage has already been done.  She is currently on steroids to help with the inflammation.  After 6 months Abby is able to walk on her own as it seems the inflammation is slowly going down and is helping because she isnt as dizzy and more stable on her feet.

After making multiple attempts to call my insurance company, we are being told that cochlear implants are not covered. I had to go back to work 4 weeks only after delivering in February and Abby’s dad was working every day travelling back and forth to work and downtown Cleveland.

Please help us raise some money to move forward with Abby's cochlear implants so she can hear her baby sister, Emma, who is now 5 months old! Cochlear Implants run between $60,000- $100,000 so anything helps! If you are unable to donate, we understand! Please atleast keep us in your prayers and share this page as much as possible!

We thank you in advance for any help!!

The Cloud/Macik Family